Saturday, 4 May 2013

Hello and wow -- talk about dormant. Managing social media and running a manufacturing and design business makes keeping up in the blogosphere nearly impossible.

After the cover garment, RELAX, in the previous post -- Dec 2012??? work seemed to overtake blogging. And with Facebook and Twitter overtaking my traditional blog, well, here's the result. Nuffin'.

This is not to say I haven't been trying to sneak in some personal knitting -- hah! She says.

My latest obsession is reviving an old pair of socks -- the heels perished and I wanted to save them. Yes, they are 10 years old and should be tossed in the trash, but with parts still perfectly wearable, I thought, well, make a frankensock!

Here's a nice shot of the shamefully holey heel.. I've unraveled past the heel and reknitted the recycled yarn, along with some Patons Stretch in a coordinating colour (fruit slice) and so... a frankensock. Original sock knitted from top down, but by reusing the top of the sock and reknitting the foot, I decided to work the new bits from the toe, then graft the leg to the foot. Total monstersock.

I read somewhere that you can't use the term frankenknitting as it's been Trademarked! Seriously? I know my knitting group friends and I used that term for ages before I ever saw it in print. So, forget that nonsense. Can't trademark UGG boot either in my book. So, I'll frankenknit as much as I like, thanks very much!

Progress photos must be organised -- the grafting worked a treat and the new sock A is finished.

Wondering how 10 year old cotton/wool sock yarn knits up after incredible amounts of wear and washing? So well that I didn't even rewash and treat the unpicked yarn for the foot. Seriously, this yarn will not die. I used a 2.00mm to reknit with and it's come up a-ok. Unreal!

Melissa Deutsch Scott

Stranded In Oz Shop

Clubs For 2013

A Merry Band of Knitters: 6 Installments of mostly 4ply/fingering wt yarn (done in 2 Parts) – for sock knitters and lovers of fine yarn knitting.

Club features: exclusive Stranded In Oz hand-painted, often limited edition mostly 4ply yarns and of course, SIOz best-sellers, such as Glinda, the Good Wool.

If you're interested in seeing the types of yarns and designs in store, have a look at strandedinoz on Ravelry, as well as many issues of YARN magazine, and design listings for yarn companies like SWTC. And socks? I've been designing socks for years and haven't exhausted the possibilities yet!.

Spinning Club for 2013 An Aussie Spinner's Year - 6 installments of spinning fibre fun (done in 2 Parts) –

This club features mostly Stranded In Oz Australian favourites – something for every spinner. You'll get a range of different types of wools, some superfine low micron top, a coloured sheepwool, as well as more unusual blends from both small breeders and commercial preparers.

PRICING: To keep the cost of each club affordable, there will be 100gms of yarn or fibre as well as a little goodie for each pack. You may also get tempted from time to time with samples of other Stranded In Oz fibres and yarns.

Subscribers enjoy a 10% discount on all SIOz fibre purchases (regularly priced items only) during the period of time they are club members.

Shipments generally are sent around the 15th of the delivery month.

Email melissa@strandedinoz.com for yarn or fibre club inquiries.

Ravelry

Join Stranded In Oz on Ravelry

About Stranded In Oz Yarns and Fibres

SIOz is a fibre arts business run by Melissa Deutsch Scott who hand-dyes yarns and fibres in Port Adelaide, SA

"I'm am a firm believer in supporting the people and businesses around my home and that's why I've chosen to trade from my local market. So come up to the Port for a pleasant Sunday of shopping, eating, dolphin-watching, and of course to come and see and feel SIOz yarns and fibres."

SIOz stocks unique fibres from around Australia and the world. At the moment, I'm featuring Australian coloured merino and ethically-traded fibres produced in a small workshop just outside of Katmandu. In addition, I always stock soy yarns and Tofutsies, the soy sock yarn. Soy is an environmentally-friendly fibre that's especially good for Aussie warm weather.